The Hutchinson City Council adopted their 2012 preliminary tax levy last night (Tuesday).

The council approved a maximum levy increase of 3 percent. That compares with 5 percent in previous years.

While Councilor Eric Yost praised city officials for witling away at the increase, he says he will not support a 3 pecent increase when the final levy is adopted later this year. Yost says “there’s just too many people sitting on the margins in this city and we need to address that.”

Finance Director Jeremy Carter says a 3 percent increase would amount to about $5 annually for the average homeowner, based on a $130,000 home.